The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-05-14
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
A Grand Masonic Event-Heavy Spring
Storms-Politics and Reform-The
Gas War, &C., sc.
RAI,rIMonr. Nav Inn. 1887

BALTIMORE, May 10th, 1887.
Messrs Editors This is an active, interesting
week in Baltimore. 1t will be truly so in every
respect We will have the centennial of Masons,
which begins to-day and will continue three days.
They here from every state in the Union, whilst
there representatives of the order from Canada,
Europe and other places. There will be probably
10000 Masons In the procession on the day devo-
ted to it. The greater number, of course, will be
from Maryland, though there will be very many
strangers present not belonging to the order, who
come from different states to see the grand meet
ing. 1t will not be surpassed by any assemblage
of the kind ever presented in Baltimore. They
will all be in uniform becoming the society, from
the highest to the lowest. During the three days
which the convention lasts-Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday-the city is expected to be crowded
and all prominent hotels filed. Indeed they are
nearly SO now, the Pimlico races drawing many
to attend them throughout the week.
Very heavy and destructive storms have pre-
vailed in some parts of Maryland and other places
within the past few days. At Frederick city and
throughout that section of the State it has seldom
been beaten accompanied by fearful thunder and
lightning and some deaths. The floods were
severe and the streams much swollen. This was
the case on the Potomac and in the Monocacy
Valley. Such storms, however, are not unfrequent
at this season of the year. In some places the
crops were good deal injured.
The State Central Democratic Committee will
meet here on the 18th inst, and have some impor-
tant business to transact Politics are likely to be
quite lively thereafter until after the election
This thing of reforming the party is pretty much
all talk. The same thing has been held out for a
long time, but the old regulars generally come out
as they wished. There cannot be two Democratic
parties any more than two Republican. Let us
hope, however, there will be improvement in both
and that they will aim in doing good. 1t is no
small matter to trife with a persons franchise
Get as fair vote and count as possibly can be had
on both and all sides, otherwise the privilege is
not worth having. Unless it comes to this we
cannot respect the right of voting nor even Of
what might be called free people. A man who
votes or counts illegally can really not respect
himself and should not be countenanced by re-
spectacle people. 1t makes elections mere farce
and fraud. Of all things, therefore, let voters
be scrupulous of their right of suffrage Ii reform
can be made in this respect let us have it, no mat
ter what's the cost. 1 am glad to see the courts
are furnishing those who violated this great priv
ilege. Let them not stop until they have reached
the end. We can very well spare such persons in
both parties and be glad to get rid OF them.
hope it will not be as heretofore-all mere moon
shine Messrs. Kerr and Cans, States Attorneys,
have been faithful in prosecuting those brought
before them in our Criminal Court. Let all who
have done like the guilty ones be alike found
guilty and eHectually punished and discarded
from decent society. He is not worthy OF being a
citizen. I say then-if you can-reform the par
ty within the party or any other way. 1t will
make decent voters respect more the party to
which they belong.
The contest between the gas companies still
goes on. 1t is first up and then down again with
the Consolidated. Thus far nothing has come OF
it. 1t looks like play among the stockholders
merely for their own purpose. 1t must, however,
come to crisis in putting gas light up before
long. The people will suffer before the thing is
over. The Chesapeake is in q substantial condi-
ton. The Consolidated is uneasy.
improvements are going on in the city and Belt
vigorously. Many residences are being put up
and mechanics are much in demand. They are
soon to pave and otherwise fix Boundary avenue
all the way through, which will be great i'm
proyement. The city promises well in this re.
spect ,
There are now host of persons-sipce the
races began-playing pool on the horses. Some
are very prosperous but in the end those engaging
in it must lose. There is law against this sort
of gambling now. The Court of Appeals decided
against the law as it stood. 1t is free and open
to ALL
The Catholics are making preparations to give
Cardinal Gibbons grand reception on his return
soon from Rome. He is very popular.
Gov. Lloyd, who has been at home on the East
ern Shore for some weeks, suffering with the govt,
is getting much better and will soon be out. 1t
is one of those aristocratc complaints which peo-
pie have not much sympathy for.
We have very cheering accounts of the peach
crop thus far. There is likely to be food of
strawberries and other small fruit. 1t is feared
by some that too much wet has somewhat injured
the strawberries, but they are hardly far enough
forward. NEsroh.